Biala (Hasidic dynasty)

Biala Hasidic Dynasty

The title page to Sefer Yismach Yisroel
Founder
Rabbi Yaakov Yitzchak of Peshischa
Regions with significant populations
Israel, United States, Switzerland
Religions
Hasidic Judaism
Languages
Yiddish, Hebrew
Related ethnic groups
Peshischa, Munkacs, Satmar

Biala (Yiddish: ביאלע) is a Hasidic dynasty originating from the city of Biała Rawska, where it was founded by R. Yaakov Yitzchak Rabinowicz (II) (1847 - 1905). Biala is a branch of Peshischa Hasidism, as R. Yaakov Yitzchak Rabinowicz (II) was the great-grandson of R. Yaakov Yitzchak Rabinowicz ("the Yid HaKadosh") (1766 - 1813), the first Peshischa Rebbe. The dynasty was originally spread throughout many towns in Poland, often taking the names of said towns. However, after the Holocaust, the name "Biala" become synonymous with the entire dynasty. Today the dynasty is mostly concentrated in Israel, America and Switzerland.